March 9, 2013
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Andrew Jennette
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Quiet bats proved costly as the UCF softball team was swept by UAB in a doubleheader Saturday at the UCF Softball Complex. The Knights (14-11, 0-2 Conference USA) dropped the opening game, 5-1, to the Blazers (10-5, 2-0) before losing the second contest 4-0. It was the first time UCF has been swept in the first two games of a conference home series since April 2, 2010.
Fans unable to make it to the park can tune in to Fox Sports Network for tomorrow's nationally-televised series finale at 11:30 a.m. Check your local listings for further details. Fans can also tune in on UCF All-Access with live audio. Others can also can follow UCFAthletics.com's Gametracker as well as www.twitter.com/UCF_Softball.
Game One: UAB 5, UCF 1 - Box Score
Freshman Mackenzie Audas got off to a tremendous start, but slipped in the late innings as UAB scored all five of its runs in the final three frames. Audas dominated the first four innings, allowing just one hit and no runs while tallying eight strikeouts. The Plant City native, however, allowed five hits and five runs (four earned) in innings five through seven and was tagged with her sixth loss of the season despite registering 10 strikeouts on the day.
The Knights recorded six hits off reigning C-USA Pitcher of the Week, Lauren Webster, but were unable to come away with any runs until a Farrah Sullivan RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Mariah Garcia went 2-for-3 while sophomore Kahley Novak was 2-for-4 to pace the offense. The Black and Gold had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the seventh as they loaded the bases with just one out on a single and a pair of walks. However, back-to-back strikeouts ended both the threat and the game for the Knights.
Sophomore Maddy Schroeder was one of the few Knights to successfully test the arm of Blazers' catcher Anna Kimbrell. After a third inning single, Schroeder swiped second for her career-high 11th stolen base of the season.
Game Two: UAB 4, UCF 0 - Box Score
Much like game one, UAB rode a strong pitching performance while benefitting from miscues by the UCF defense. Freshman Shelby Turnier lost a no-hitter in the fifth and finished the contest allowing six hits and two earned runs in the complete seven innings. A pair of errors by the Knights tacked on two more unearned runs to the Plant City native as she picked up her fourth loss of the season. Turnier's ERA now sits at 2.30 on the year.
Novak went 1-for-3 with a stolen base for the Knights to give her three hits for the doubleheader. However, the team as a whole struggled to string together consistent at bats, managing three hits on the contest. The Black and Gold's best chance came in the fifth after a single by senior Lauren Aldridge and a hit by pitch on Sullivan put two on with just one out trailing by two runs. After a stolen base put runners on the corners, a fly out to shallow left ended the Knights' best chance to get back in the contest.
The Black and Gold will play one of their 13 remaining home games at the UCF Softball Complex this weekend, with season tickets for the 2013 season costing only $30. Tickets are available for purchase online at UCFAthletics.com and Ticketmaster.com, or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at 407-823-1000.